B·F·G

Following tours with The Cult, New Order, and the Smiths as drummer with Factory Records band Lavolta Lakota, Mike Simmii (or Mike Simpkins) left to form BFG in Summer 1985. Joined by B.J. Williams (2) on vocals, Keith Lambert on bass, and Acky on guitar.  After hearing an early "Paris" demo, Joy Division and New Order bassist Pete Hook invited the band to support New Order on their summer 1986 tour. This tour coincided with BFG's first release: the 12" single "Paris".  BFG's first headlining show in home town Manchester was with the Stone Roses as support. At this early stage they were compared with Joy Division for the intensity of their live performance. Soon the band were starting to gain a reputation of being "difficult" as far as the press were concerned. During the late 80's the band completed only very few interviews and even today still refuse to play by the media's rules.  The line up changed for the "Western Sky" and "Higher" EPs, with Steve Craig replacing B.J. Williams and Paul Batheram replacing Acky on guitar. Also at this time Guy Hatton (who would later join the Utah Saints) was asked to join BFG.  The BFG sound then altered and was moving in a much more melodic ‘dark wave’ direction, which resulted in the band's debut album ‘Fathoms’, released in 1988.  The second album, "Blue", was released in 1990, this time mixing even more technology with pummelling bass lines. By then, BFG were stripped back to a duo, Mike Simii and B.J. Williams.  The band dissolved in 1991 but reformed in 2016 and has started recording new material.